CPI (M) calls for dialogues with striking medicos

Kolkata, May 23 (UNI) The CPI (M) today cautioned the Centre against any repressive measure against the striking medicos and urged it to break the impasse over OBC quota through dialogues.

Alleging that the decision to increase OBC quota in higher educational institutions was creating division among the students, the party's West Bengal State Committee Secretary Biman Bose said the way the issue was being handled lacked any 'insight' into the gravity of the situation.

" The UPA Government probably has an eye on the 2007 state assembly elections, but it is going ahead with the issue without assessing the entire dimension," he said.

Mr Basu said the party condemned the way junior doctors were beaten up by the police.

Observing that reservation was necessary, the CPI (M) leader said the UPA Government should make a balance between the need to promote excellence in educational institutions and its commitment to the SC, ST and Other Backward Classes.

" This can be done by increasing the number of existing seats so that other students are not affected and merit is not diluted.

However, the creamy layer in the OBC should not get any benefit," he observed.

Mr Basu said the situation regarding the OBC population was different in states and there could not be any uniform rule for the quota of reservation.

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